Liquid shark cartilage is one of several forms of this promising new treatment for certain forms of advanced cancer. Since the early 1990’s, shark cartilage has been viewed as a promising anti-cancer treatment. Researchers have conducted several experiments to identify its ability to cut off a cancerous tumor’s blood supply and thus prevent cancer from growing large enough to become a problem in the human body. In some studies, existing tumors actually shrank after treatment with shark cartilage. Other studies suggest that the life expectancy of trial study participants doubled when taking shark cartilage. However, other studies involving shark cartilage seem to show little effect, so research continues in an effort to further clarify the actual benefits of shark cartilage as a cancer treatment.
Some doctors already support its use and recommend it in a variety of forms. For example, pills may be taken once or several times daily in an effort to stave off cancer growth. Liquid shark cartilage may be easier to take for those with swallowing difficulties. However, the substance has a strong fishy taste, and some people may struggle to down enough of the liquid to do any good without becoming nauseous. Another liquid form of shark cartilage can be taken as an enema, although one case of bacterial infection has been reported as a result.
Anyone with a fish allergy may develop a reaction when taking liquid shark cartilage or any form of the substance. Be sure to let your doctor know if you experience a rash, hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing, or other symptoms, while taking shark cartilage.
What is shark cartilage? It is the soft, semi-bone connective tissue that supports appendages like the nose or ears. Since sharks have no bones, their spine comprises cartilage that becomes easy to harvest when dogfish sharks are caught for food. Their cartilage would be otherwise discarded, so their skeletal parts are more available and easier to retrieve than cartilage from other animals like cows, which also has been tested and found to be less effective than shark cartilage.
However, liquid shark cartilage and other forms is not cheap. A typical month’s supply can run nearly $700 depending on the supplier and production means. Because it works as an angiogenesis agent, meaning that shark cartilage reduces blood flow to the tumor area and thus starves it, the substance may not work for all forms of cancer, some of which are supported by other bodily systems. Many doctors do not recognize shark cartilage as a valuable resource instead of conventional therapy or even in conjunction with conventional therapy.
As research continues, liquid shark cartilage remains available on the market or online to those who want to try it at their own risk or with a doctor’s recommendation. The product is labeled as a nutrition supplement rather than as a medical treatment for now, but in the future that may change if ongoing studies reveal that the cartilage is able to shrink existing cancerous tumors or prevent the growth of new ones. Even extending life expectancy is a valued goal, and this may be the first plausible result to be reached in the near future.
